Stanislaus
fair
concludes
with a
record-setting
run
Turlock
– The 2006
Stanislaus
County Fair
wrapped up
on Sunday
after a
10-day run
that broke a
16-year
record and
brought
great
success in
an otherwise
unstable
fair
climate.
At a time
when
attendance
is dipping
at fairs all
over the
state, the
Stanislaus
County Fair
exceeded its
attendance
figures from
2005, with
219,365
guests
attending.
In addition,
the 2006
fair
experienced
the highest
single day
attendance
it has had
in the past
16-years. On
Saturday,
Aug. 5, the
final
Saturday of
the 10-day
run, 33,205
visited the
fair.
“At a time
when gas
prices,
interest
rates and
house
payments
have reached
new highs
and the
summer
weather
brought
history-making
heat waves
the week
before we
opened, we
consider an
increase in
attendance
from 2005 to
be a
tremendous
success,”
said Tony
Leo, chief
executive
officer of
the
Stanislaus
County Fair.
Leo shared
that many
California
fairs have
seen a drop
in
attendance
this year,
anywhere
from nine to
23 percent.
“On
Saturday,
Aug. 5, we
had 33,205
guests in
attendance,
which is the
highest
single day
attendance
we have seen
in 16
years,” said
Leo.
“Definitely
the spring
like weather
was a
contributing
factor.”
“However,
the true
mark of a
fair’s
success is
not in
attendance
numbers, but
in positive
exhibitor
participation
and happy
fair
guests.”
Rebecca
Luis, winner
of the
modestofamous.com
favorite
fair
memories
contest,
shared her
enthusiasm
for the
fair’s
variety in
entertainment
and its
robust
exhibitor
program.
“There is
something so
fun and
magical
about the
[Stanislaus
County]
Fair. It’s a
taste of
culture in
art,
farming,
food, music
and rides
that you
can’t find
in other
places,”
said Lewis.
The Junior
Livestock
Auction on
Saturday,
Aug. 5 was
full of
evidence of
the fair’s
successful
exhibitor
program.
Gunter Brisi
of Valley
Home 4-H
earned
almost $30
per pound
for his 4-H
Grand
Champion
Poultry Meat
Pen. Jillian
Goubert of
Patterson
FFA earned
an
impressive
$13,000 for
her Reserve
Supreme
Champion
Market
Steer.
The FoodMaxx
Arena was
filled with
excitement
during the
fair’s
10-day run,
too.
Sold-out
crowds
packed the
Arena for
the fair’s
two
destruction
derbies, the
truck and
tractor
pulls and
the annual
motocross
competition.
“Our fair is
known for
including
high-caliber
celebrity
headliner
concerts
with the
price of
fair
admission
and this
year’s fair
was no
different,”
said Leo.
“Standing-room
only crowds
turned out
for the
concerts on
our
Budweiser
Variety Free
Stage,
including
SHe DAISY,
Bobby
Vinton, The
Charlie
Daniels Band
and Graciela
Beltran.”
The
Stanislaus
County Fair
just
concluded
its 95th
run. The
2007 fair
will open on
Friday, July
27 for a
10-day run.
The theme of
the 2007
fair will be
“Summer
Safari.”
The mission
of the
Stanislaus
County Fair
is to
provide a
family and
community
oriented
experience
promoting
agriculture,
entertainment
and
technology.
For more
information
about the
Stanislaus
County Fair
log onto
www.stancofair.com.
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